THE THUMB SUCKING DILEMMA

What? Me worry?…

One troubling concern for parents of small children is non-nutritive sucking of thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, or bottles. Will non-nutritive sucking (NNS) lead to orthodontic or facial growth problems? At what age does damage start? Should I encourage my child to stop sucking or wait until the habit is given up naturally? Will forcing a child to give up NNS cause them to develop a substitute habit or psychological disturbance?

Authorities in the field of dental and facial development agree that prolonged NNS can lead to disturbances in tooth position, facial growth and speech development.

The amount of damage is related to the frequency, intensity and duration of the habit, and often needs to be professionally evaluated. The important thing to realize is that the digit or pacifier sucking habit is only part of the picture. The real danger is that the sucking habit changes the dental and oral environment in ways that encourage other, more permanent, problems such as tongue thrust swallowing and abnormal resting position of the tongue. These habits are dangerous because they are more difficult to observe. They are subconscious and therefore, hard to break, and they often continue the problems of facial and dental development even after the NNS habit has been given up.

Studies show that 50%-70% of children have NNS habits in the first year of life. During this period, NNS is considered normal and perhaps even beneficial. By age four, this percentage is reduced to 25%. By this age, any real benefits of NNS are gone, and all that remains is empty habit. The danger of permanent effects on teeth and jaws is becoming very real. In addition, there are other health and social adjustment problems such as peer rejection which can become problematic as a child makes the transition from close ties with parents at home to a school environment.

Methods of discouraging NNS habits vary greatly, ranging from simple behavior modification problems, to reminders and mild impedances like a sock or glove, to dental devices such as “rakes” or “spurs” that definitely make sucking less pleasurable. Scientific studies have shown that encouraging a child to give up an NNS habit rarely causes the development of nervous habits. To the contrary, giving up sucking usually marks a period of improved self-esteem and social adjustment.

Factors common to all cessation methods are; the desire to stop on the part of the child, the maintenance of the child’s self-esteem and the caring support of family and involved professionals. It is important that the child views the habit correction not as punitive but as something that is beneficial and will help him or her accomplish a goal.

Age five is then the upper limit of when non-nutritive sucking should be discontinued. Warning signs to look for are:

DENTAL AND FACIAL WARNING SIGNS

*Upper front teeth spaced or protruding in front of lower front teeth.
*Upper front teeth don’t show enough and seem pushed up under the lip.
*Bite is “open” in front and upper teeth don’t cover the lowers.
*Tongue seems visible or protruding.
*Upper row of teeth appears to narrow for the face.
*Lips are apart at rest.
*Lower jaw often seems to be moving or wiggling.
*Lower jaw and chin are shifted to one side.

BEHAVIORAL WARNING SIGNS

*Age five or older.
*Vigorous sucking.
*Sucking at school or during the day at home.
*Family arguments regarding the habit.

SPEECH WARNING SIGNS

*Lisping (using the tongue to help pronounce sounds like “S”).
*Substitution of “th” for “s” as in “thither” instead of “sister.”

(Note the above speech signs are normal when upper front baby teeth are missing while being replaced by permanent teeth.)

Dental, speech or other professionals can help in ways other than by placing discouragement devices. It is often possible for an interested bu independent authority to have more impact and success in convincing a child to abandon sucking habits by pointing out the damage that is occurring. When professionals become involved, and the issue is no longer confined to the parent and the child, the sucking habit is less likely to become grounds for a parent/child power struggle.

We recommend examination by an orthodontist at age five if a habit persists, and at age seven if a habit has been given up but any of the above warning signs remain.

An excellent book with more information on this subject is “David Decides” by Susan M. Heitler, Ph.D. It is available at some book stores. We have a copy at our office which we would be pleased to loan.

Sewing machines are very important to many of us. They deliver a lot of skills to the users. They will at the same time give the users a lot of creativity. Well, you need to have the services from the machine for a long time. For that to happen, you need to ensure that you take care of your machine. With the help of the manual, you will get all details of how to keep your machine safe.
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Here are some of the tips you need to follow to maintain your machine. One, you need to start by covering it when you are done using it. Dust is a disaster to the machine and the owners of these machines need to cover them after use. This is the only way they will keep the machines from damage. The machine will be ineffective if it has dust. In most instances, you need to keep cleaning it after every while.

Threading your machine is part of cleaning and also lint under the plate. The other way to maintain the machine is by oiling the machine. There is no need of stressing yourself with getting very expensive oil. It is as simple as getting the normal oil and use it for your machine and the functioning will be alright. Remember to run a small piece of cloth once you are done oiling it to help in removing excess oil. The machine is fixed using screws. The more you work with it, the looser they become. It is therefore advisable that the screws get tightened every once in a while.

Here you need to make use of the manual of the machine. It has all details of how to fix the machine when a problem arises with the screws. In addition to that, the needle needs to be taken care of. They also contribute to the efficiency of the machine. Use a soft cloth to wipe off the dirt from the needle and also any other particles that may have fallen. Clean all the particles found and the best machine here is a vacuum nozzle. Be sure not to blow them out since this might get them in the machine further which tends to be very hectic to remove.
In case there is a major problem with the machine, there is the need to call a mechanic who understands the machine better. With all the steps above, the machine will have an efficient service supply. Get on to the internet and know how to buy the machine and do not forget to include the manual. This will help in fixing the minor problems when they will show up.
Sewing Machine for Beginners

Buying sewing machines for beginners is especially tough when you are a just starting out. It can be a scary task; add to that all the different brands and each of them have many different models it inevitably becomes incredibly more difficult.

1) Objective: Like with any other product you purchase, before buying a sewing machine you need to ask yourself why you need a sewing machine in the first place. Writing down all the reasons why you need it may help you narrow down to the one which best suits you.

2) Questions: As a beginner seamstress you may need to ask yourself the following questions:

· Will you be sewing simple home décor projects or fashionable clothing?
· Will you be quilting?
· Do you want a lighter and portable sewing machine?
· Do you want to go for a simple sewing machine or a computerized one?
· What about embroidery? Will you need to embroider often?
· What is your budget? How much are you ready to pay for a sewing machine right now? Are you ready to spend the big bucks or do you need to look at the discount sewing machines?
· Do you have enough space in your house or room for a sewing machine?

3) Features: The bare minimum that a brand new seamstress should look for in purchasing their very first sewing machine is the following:
· a nice clean straight stitch
· a nice zigzag
· a very easy method of making buttonholes
· an adjustable presser foot pressure
· A variety of stitch lengths from 0-6

4) Price: A great sewing machine starts as low as $50 for a very basic discount model, and can go up to thousands of dollars for the high-tech advanced models. If you’re a brand new beginner, then I advise you to stick to discount and the very basic models rather than machines with tons of features. However, if you are enthusiastic it is really worth buying an all in one machine, so that you have all the fantastic features as you become more and more familiar with them. Either way, consider all the different models and ask yourself what you’re planning to use the machine for, and then choose respectively.
5) Machine: There are tons of different sewing machine brands and models to choose from, Brother, Singer, Juki, SewPro, Consew, Bernina, Simplicity, Viking Husqvarna and many more. When first starting out, I highly advise you to choose a simple sewing machine like the Singer 4200 series or the Brother 25-Stitch Sewing Machine or Singer 30-Stitch Function Sewing Machine. If you are looking to buy for a child’s sewing machine, then the Singer Zigzag Sewing Machine and the Singer Chain Stitch Sewing machine is highly recommended.
Antique Singer Sewing Machine

Deciding to purchase an antique sewing machine is a decision that will help you brighten up your home while also bringing a very real part of the past into your life. Antique sewing machines are a tangible part of history, showing us the simpler past and the ingenuity of the human will in wanting to create something better. It takes you back and also has a unique beauty that is compelling, draws an eye to it, and is quite complex, making it a lovely addition to any home decor.

Whether you are a person who is an enthusiast of sewing, or you simply love the beauty of antique sewing machines for their soft curves and beauty, it is important to know exactly what you are looking for when you begin your search for that perfect addition to your home. It could be to help bring business to your seamstress business by placing a lovely machine in the window, or you are looking to complete your perfect themed room in your home. Antique sewing machines are the best way to accomplish those goals. If you’re looking to purchase, though, then you need a place to start, so here are a few tips.
A great way to actually start searching for antique sewing machines is actually on the Internet. With countless sites dedicated to shopping and auctions, these beautiful pieces of history can be found all over the place through vendors. If it is a vintage Singer machine you are looking for, or perhaps a cast iron replica, the chances are that you will be able to find it online. You can get a rough estimate of how much the machine you might be looking for is going to be worth, but antique sewing machines are also fairly common items to find at flea markets or antique shops, so you can also find out their value that way. Either way, the Internet provides you an option to browse several options and then take the step when you’re ready.

Another option through the Internet is to use classified ad websites, such as Craigslist, or even your local newspaper often has a website where you can post and respond to classified ads. You can search for antique sewing machines to see what is available, or then post your very own ad so that someone who may have what you are looking for can find out and possibly be interested to sell.

Another option is to actually look for the Collectors Societies, such as the International Sewing Machine Collectors Society, which brings enthusiasts together so that you can look through a great deal of ads in the ISMCS digest. These ads for antique sewing machines are more geared toward other enthusiasts, so it will give you an idea of the terminology, as well as provide more information on antique sewing machines. You can read up on your own and you’ll be able to get a clear picture of what you want in a machine, and that is a large part of looking for a machine.

Finally, the best way that you will find antique sewing machines at an affordable price is to make sure that you look locally. Flea markets, garage sales, and home auctions often have the best deals with affordable prices, as a great deal of antiques are sold at these locations for much less than the actual worth of the item.More InformationSewing Machine Maintenance Tips

Home Rheem Water Heater Systems

In the United States, water heating accounts for up to 25% of household expenses. This is why it should be a priority for consumers to select an efficient water heater that could address their water heating needs. Rheem water heaters happen to be one of the best in the market today. Contact us @ http://champion-plumbing.com/water-heaters/

Rheem has been producing water heaters since the 1930s. Since then, it has become the leading manufacturer of water heating units that are used for residential and commercial applications in North America. Rheem water heating devices are noted for their efficiency in providing steady and strong hot water flow in multiple taps at the same time. All water heating units produced by the company are built in with their signature feature which is the Rheem Mains Pressure Advantage.

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Most water heaters used in North America are the storage tank type. Also known as storage water heaters, these can accommodate from 75 to 400 liters of water. These may be fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, or heating oil. In the United States, natural gas heaters are the most common. These usually take the form of vertical cylindrical tanks that are usually standing on the floor or on a raised platform.

For those with tank-type water heaters, it is very important to provide tank insulation for reduction of standby heat loss. Storage water heaters are designed in such a way that the water contained in the tank should be heated round-the-clock even when unused. Hot water contained in tanks with poor insulation may become cold. An extra insulating blanket or jacket may be used on the exterior of a tank to minimize heat loss.

When choosing a Rheem water heater or any branded water heater, certain factors like the Energy Factor (EF) and the First Hour Rating (FHR) should be considered. The higher these ratings are, the more efficient a water heating device is, and efficiency is indeed what everyone looks for in any water heating device.
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